Cattle guard



June 20, 1933. M. 1.. BOULTINGHOUSE 1,915,131

CATTLE GUARD Filed May 15 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1933 UNETD STATES MACK L. BOULTINGHOUSE, OF MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS CATTLE Application filed May 13,

My present invention has reference to a cattle guard which will prevent cattle traveling from one field into another or to prevent cattle traveling from a field onto a roadway and straying and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a device for I this purpose which includes a gate of a particular and peculiar construction and weighted means associated with the gate for holding the gate normally in vertical or obstructing position across a roadway between the ends of a fence, said gate is swingable in either direction against the roadway by pressure exerted thereagainst so that automobiles or like vehicles by slight contact with the gate can swing the same to permit the automobile to pass without necessitating the driver leaving the seat of the automobile to open, the gate, while obviously pedestrians can also swing the gate to pass from one field into another.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cattle guard in accordance with this invention.-

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fence sections 1 terminate at the opposite sides of a roadway 2. The roadway is preferably of concrete and in the showing of the drawing has its ends extended downwardly into trough-like trenches disposed below the fence sections 1. The troughs 3 are not necessarily reinforced by the concrete road surface, but may be bricked or may be constructed of metal or any other desired material. and have their bottom portions provided with a plurality of spaced drainopenings 4. The troughs are arcuate in cross section and each of the said troughs has arranged thereover an arched cover plate 5. I

The numeral 6 desi nates. a shaft which is clamped in bearings at the center of the GUARD 1932. Serial No. 611,196.

rear or outer walls of the troughs 3. The shaft 6, at the portion thereof between the confronting ends of the fence 1 has fixed thereto the rounded ends of a pluralityof equidistantly spaced metal straps 8 and to 5D the inner faces of these straps there are rigidly fixed panels 9 which may be of metal or wood and between the panels there are fixed the longitudinally arranged and closely related bars or plates 10. These elements afford the gate. On the end uprights or panels 9 there are fixed the sides of cross sectionally U-shaped brackets 11 that have outstanding ears 12 at their outer ends and between these ears there is journaled the removable trunnions 13 for a roller 14. The roller is preferably in the nature of a cross sectionally rounded rod or pipe.

The end uprights or panels 9 have fixed thereto outwardly extending plates 15 and as disclosed by the drawing, the brackets 8 on the end uprights 9 are bulged portions 17 to receive therein and to have clamped thereto weighted cylinders 18. The outer ends of the plates 15 have secured thereto straps 19 also provided with outwardly bulged portions to receive therebetween and to have clamped thereto the weighted cylindrical members 18.

Preferably the cylinders 18 are of sufficient weight to counterbalance the gate and hold the same in a vertical position and to hold the gate in such position against the influence of wind. However, the weighted cylinders 18 may and preferably are hollow and are provided with openings that are closed by removable plugs 21. When the plugs are removed material, to add to the weight of the cylinders 18 may be inserted therein.

The shaft 6 is held stationary in what I have termed the bearings 7 so that the gate and the bulged elements which support the Weighted cylinders on the shaft are mounted for turning on the said shaft. Any suitable means is employed for preventing the sliding of the ate and the weighted cylinders on the sha such means, in the showing of the drawing being in the nature of adjustably secured collars 16.

It will be noted from the foregoing that 4100 the gate is normally held in an upright vertical position and afi'ords an eificient barrier for the roadway at the opposite sides of the fence 1. The gate is of a strong and rigid construction and the metal straps and panels thereon reinforce the longitudinal elements 10 of the gate to an extent that the said gate can withstand excessive pressure. An automobile traveling on the road is moved to bring its front bumper against the gate which will cause the said gate to swing downwardly to a sufiicient angle to permit of the wheels traveling onto the gate to force the same against the roadway and the roller 14 of the gate materially assists the machine in passing oil of the gate. The gate will thenimmediately return to its upright position to afford the guard that will prevent cattle from passing from one field to another and from a field onto the roadway. 1

While I have illustrated and described one satisfactory embodiment of the improvement, obviously the same is susceptible to such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim A cattle guard comprising a gate, spaced journals at one edge of the gate, a fixed shaft extending through the journals and projecting beyond the ends of the gate and overlying pits at theends of the gate, a pair of said journals so shaped to form adjustable clamps operable in the pits, arms on the gate and extending parallel with the shaft, journal brackets on said arms rotatably receiving the shaft and extending into the pits and shaped to form adjustable clamps, and elongated cylindrical weights carried by said clamps and located in the pits.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MACK L. BOULTINGHOUSE. 

